When I search for files containing a specific string using the Windows
Search feature, often I find that Windows doesn't retrieve the correct
search results.

For e.g. today I invoked the Search feature to search for all files
(using *.* in the first textbox) in a folder named C:\Inetpub\wwwroot
\ASPX that contain the string '.Math' (without the quotes). I am more
than 100% sure that there are some files in the above-mentioned folder
which have the text '.Math' but the Search says "Search is complete.
There are no results to display".

Why isn't Search retrieving the correct result?

Please note that this isn't the first time I am encountering this
anomaly. I have come across similar situations on numerous occasions
when I am sure that a particular string exists in files in a folder
but Search doesn't retrieve any results.

Suggestions:

Try using the plain-text filter for .aspx files. By default, it uses nlhtml.dll (html filter) for search. For more details, check the following link:

Windows® XP - Search Problems - Containing Text:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_bad_search.htm

(or)

Use a third-party search tool such as Agent Ransack or Sleuthhound.

Agent Ransack:
http://www.agentransack.com/default.aspx

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


<rn5a@rediffmail.com> wrote in message news:1170862820.422320.178090@m58g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com...
When I search for files containing a specific string using the Windows
Search feature, often I find that Windows doesn't retrieve the correct
search results.

For e.g. today I invoked the Search feature to search for all files
(using *.* in the first textbox) in a folder named C:\Inetpub\wwwroot
\ASPX that contain the string '.Math' (without the quotes). I am more
than 100% sure that there are some files in the above-mentioned folder
which have the text '.Math' but the Search says "Search is complete.
There are no results to display".

Why isn't Search retrieving the correct result?

Please note that this isn't the first time I am encountering this
anomaly. I have come across similar situations on numerous occasions
when I am sure that a particular string exists in files in a folder
but Search doesn't retrieve any results.

On Feb 7, 10:57 pm, "Ramesh, MS-MVP" <ram...@XOX.mvps.org> wrote:
> Suggestions:
>
> Try using the plain-text filter for .aspx files. By default, it uses nlhtml.dll (html filter) for search. For more details, check the following link:
>
> Windows® XP - Search Problems - Containing Text:http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_bad_search.htm
>
> (or)
>
> Use a third-party search tool such as Agent Ransack or Sleuthhound.
>
> Agent Ransack:http://www.agentransack.com/default.aspx
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> Windows® XP Troubleshootinghttp://www.winhelponline.com
>
> <r...@rediffmail.com> wrote in messagenews:1170862820.422320.178090@m58g2000cwm.g ooglegroups.com...
>
> When I search for files containing a specific string using the Windows
> Search feature, often I find that Windows doesn't retrieve the correct
> search results.
>
> For e.g. today I invoked the Search feature to search for all files
> (using *.* in the first textbox) in a folder named C:\Inetpub\wwwroot
> \ASPX that contain the string '.Math' (without the quotes). I am more
> than 100% sure that there are some files in the above-mentioned folder
> which have the text '.Math' but the Search says "Search is complete.
> There are no results to display".
>
> Why isn't Search retrieving the correct result?
>
> Please note that this isn't the first time I am encountering this
> anomaly. I have come across similar situations on numerous occasions
> when I am sure that a particular string exists in files in a folder
> but Search doesn't retrieve any results.

> Try using the plain-text filter for .aspx files. By default, it uses nlhtml.dll (html filter) >for search. For more details, check the following link

Ramesh, I had a look at the article at the URL you have suggested but
it doesn't say anything about plain-text filters or nlhtml.dll.

How do I change the filter? Moreover, I don't want a solution for ASPX
files only. I would prefer a solution for all file types or as many
file types as possible (since the article states that this can be
taken care of for many file types but not all file types). Or should I
add the Persistent

I followed the instructions cited in the article & found that the
PersistentHandler sub-key for *.aspx files does exist. Hence I did not
change the Default value (on the right-hand side of the Registry
window) for this sub-key as suggested in the article.

The 2 search tools you have recommended - Agent Ransack & SleuthHound
- are they completely safe? Actually the names of the 2 search tools
sound pretty ominous to me especially the former. I hope they don't
come with any viruses, trojans, worms, malwares, spywares, adwares or
any other harmful programs.

Just would like to get this confirmed from you......after all,
precaution/prevention is better than cure, isn't it?

Thanks for your suggestions.

On Feb 7, 10:57 pm, "Ramesh, MS-MVP" <ram...@XOX.mvps.org> wrote:
> Suggestions:
>
> Try using the plain-text filter for .aspx files. By default, it uses nlhtml.dll (html filter) for search. For more details, check the following link:
>
> Windows® XP - Search Problems - Containing Text:http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_bad_search.htm
>
> (or)
>
> Use a third-party search tool such as Agent Ransack or Sleuthhound.
>
> Agent Ransack:http://www.agentransack.com/default.aspx
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> Windows® XP Troubleshootinghttp://www.winhelponline.com
>
> <r...@rediffmail.com> wrote in messagenews:1170862820.422320.178090@m58g2000cwm.g ooglegroups.com...
>
> When I search for files containing a specific string using the Windows
> Search feature, often I find that Windows doesn't retrieve the correct
> search results.
>
> For e.g. today I invoked the Search feature to search for all files
> (using *.* in the first textbox) in a folder named C:\Inetpub\wwwroot
> \ASPX that contain the string '.Math' (without the quotes). I am more
> than 100% sure that there are some files in the above-mentioned folder
> which have the text '.Math' but the Search says "Search is complete.
> There are no results to display".
>
> Why isn't Search retrieving the correct result?
>
> Please note that this isn't the first time I am encountering this
> anomaly. I have come across similar situations on numerous occasions
> when I am sure that a particular string exists in files in a folder
> but Search doesn't retrieve any results.

Ramesh, I had a look at the article at the URL you have suggested but
it doesn't say anything about plain-text filters or nlhtml.dll.

How do I change the filter? Moreover, I don't want a solution for ASPX
files only. I would prefer a solution for all file types or as many
file types as possible (since the article states that this can be
taken care of for many file types but not all file types). Or should I
add the PersistentHandler sub-key to all the file types (where it
doesn't exist) listed under the * key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT & set the
Default value for the PersistentHandler sub-keys to {5e941d80-
bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb} (as suggested in the article)?

I followed the instructions cited in the article & found that the
PersistentHandler sub-key for *.aspx files does exist. Hence I did not
change the Default value (on the right-hand side of the Registry
window) for this sub-key as suggested in the article.

The 2 search tools you have recommended - Agent Ransack & SleuthHound
- are they completely safe? Actually the names of the 2 search tools
sound pretty ominous to me especially the former. I hope they don't
come with any viruses, trojans, worms, malwares, spywares, adwares or
any other harmful programs.

Just would like to get this confirmed from you......after all,
precaution/prevention is better than cure, isn't it?

Thanks for your suggestions.

Both are reputed tools, and Agent Ransack in particular is very often recommended in this newsgroup, as a replacement for XP search. They don't contain any malware.

Agent Ransack - home:
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

iSleuthHound Technologies - Desktop Search Tool:
http://www.isleuthhound.com

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


<rn5a@rediffmail.com> wrote in message news:1170883753.839353.314740@l53g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
On Feb 7, 10:57 pm, "Ramesh, MS-MVP" <ram...@XOX.mvps.org> wrote:
> Suggestions:
>
> Try using the plain-text filter for .aspx files. By default, it uses nlhtml.dll (html filter) for search. For more details, check the following link:
>
> Windows® XP - Search Problems - Containing Text:http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_bad_search.htm
>
> (or)
>
> Use a third-party search tool such as Agent Ransack or Sleuthhound.
>
> Agent Ransack:http://www.agentransack.com/default.aspx
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> Windows® XP Troubleshootinghttp://www.winhelponline.com